Home intruders ask for ‘shelter from rain’ in Folkingham and Boothby Pagnell

Published: 13:58, 25 May 2016

Police crime news.

Police have issued a warning after two similar incidents which saw men gain access to properties by asking for shelter from the weather.

On Wednesday afternoon last week, two males entered the Churchfields Lane home of an older couple in Folkingham (incident 287 of 18/05/2016).

When confronted by the home owners, the men asked if they could shelter from the rain. The kitchen door had been left unlocked as the owners were in the home at the time.

One of the males asked to use the toilet, and the husband escorted him to and from the toilet, preventing him from exploring the rest of the house.

The males were described as dressed in dark clothing and one was wearing a ‘beanie’ or woollen hat. One was about 6ft plus, and the other shorter.

Then, later on in the same day, a single male entered a house on Main Street in Boothby Pagnell, in similar circumstances (incident 374 of 18/05/2016).

He walked in through an unlocked door, and when confronted by the home owner also asked if he could shelter from the rain. He was described again as over 6ft tall and was wearing dark clothing. Given the weather, the female home owner also thought it was strange that his footwear was dry.

If anyone has had anything similar happen to them in the last week, please report it via the 101 non-emergency number. Those with information on these incidents are asked to quote the relevant incident number.

“It is import that doors are kept closed and locked even when you are in the home,” said Grantham Rural South PCSO Stuart Bowden. “The opportunist will always take advantage of these situations.”